What a blessing it was to attend an Easter Sunrise Service in the Los Altos football stadium this morning!  It was a united effort of 3 or 4 different churches.  How awesome to see such unity in the Body of Christ.  And the free tamales and hot chocolate weren’t so bad either.  =)  And starting at 5:30 in the morning, the local neighbors got to celebrate Easter a little early as well!  I’m sure they didn’t mind.

Well, it happened.  I knew it would eventually, but did not expect it quite this soon.  Though, as I reflect on it, it’s not nearly as soon as it could have been.

We had parent conferences last night.  One of the parents of my students graduated with me from Los Altos.  She was even in my section in the entertainment unit.  I was her section leader.  So, there it is—I am officially old.

Thankfully, I remembered her.  Unfortunately, I often do not.  I have realized that I have been fairly narcissistic much of my life, and I have concluded it’s a symptom of narcissism not to remember people, because, essentially, you don’t really care about others beyond what they can do to meet your needs.  Remembering people requires one to be fairly “other-centered.” Lord, thank you for helping me see this and thank you for teaching me to genuinely love others more.  You understand that I walked through high school being nearly completely self-absorbed, and now, as a high school teacher, you have opened my eyes to the preciousness of teenagers.  In a way, it’s a second chance.  You are worthy to be praised!

BTW, I have found a blog that just cracks me up.  Hopefully no one will be offended.  As a white person, I’m allowed to laugh at this. =)   Some of my favorites stuff white people like:  assists and recycling!  Of course, they really should change the title to “stuff white liberals like.”  That’s why it’s so funny!

In our Christian club prayer meeting the other night, I mentioned stories of the Jesus film. Here’s one:

The Man in the Clouds

Some years ago, in Asia, a young national missionary couple felt the call of God to take their 3-year-old son to a very resistant area in the North to live among the native people. They labored faithfully for many years in this notorious area known as the “graveyard of missionaries” without seeing a single person come to Christ. Their every effort to share the gospel was met with opposition, as they battled discouragement, depression, spiritual oppression and polluted water.

One day the husband walked through the door of their tiny home, collapsed and died. Distraught, his wife went to check on their sick child. He also had died. Devastated, confused, she returned to the States, with her acute loss, seemingly defeated.

A few weeks later, a “JESUS” film team arrived in that exact area. This time the government officials allowed the film to be shown. During the scene at Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River, when His face first appeared on the screen, the crowd erupted with shouts and exclamations. The team had no choice but to stop the film and learn what the commotion was about. “It’s the Man!” they shouted. “He is the One we saw walking in the clouds!”*

It seemed that everyone had seen Him the day the national missionary and his son died. Clouds formed over the hillsides. The vision of a Man, larger-than-life, appeared above the clouds, walking over their hills, shedding tears. The people suspected that it was a message from God, that He was displeased that they had rejected the gospel. Now, they were being given a second chance.

As the team restarted the projector, the people settled down to continue watching the film. Everyone was transfixed by the story. Then, at the end, the majority of these hard, resistant, people put their faith in Christ! Other miracles followed. People were delivered from evil spirits. The sick were healed. The deep spiritual hunger of many was met.

But, the greater miracle is this: where once there were no Christians, there are now 46,000 believers and hundreds of growing and maturing churches! Today, they are preparing to send out their own missionaries to other unreached people, some of whom will use the “JESUS” film. The “graveyard of missionaries” has become the “vineyard of missionaries!”

*On occasion, the Holy Spirit reportedly gives a vision of the risen Christ that resembles the actor who portrays Jesus. It appears to be His way of affirming the truth of His Word to some who have seen or will see the “JESUS” film.

See more here (click on stories in the column on the right).

God is good, and powerful.